RULES AND REGULATIONS

            1) USTA RULES AND REGULATIONS are in effect except where explicitly superseded by ITA or N.E.W. Div. III I.T.T. rules. Coaches should have good knowledge of all rules and regulations.

            2) WARM UP 10 minutes for the first match of the day, five minutes for matches thereafter.

            3) THREE TO FIVE MATCHES per day may be required. Players must be on-hand.

            4) SUBSTITUTIONS will be governed by tournament rules and will follow the recommended rules of substitution for ITA dual match play. The tournament committee will approve all substitutions.

            5) THE USTA POINT PENALTY system as modified by ITA rules will be used for this tournament. Player conduct will be governed by ITA and USTA rules (The code). The ITA PPS consists of three steps: point penalty, game penalty, default. There is NO WARNING. The ITA PPS covers, but is not limited to: visible or audible profanity or obscenity, racket abuse, ball abuse, verbal or physical abuse of a player or official, intentional time violations, being overruled more than two times, and unsportsmanlike conduct. (The word “sucks” is considered to be an audible obscenity.)

            6) AWARDS will be given in each championship flight. No team trophy will be awarded. .

            7) COACHING may be continuous throughout the match, as long as it does not interfere with play. Coaching is permitted by either a head or assistant coach and the players, but only one person may coach on a court at a time. No parents or spectators may coach.

            8) FOOT FAULTS will be called without warming (ITA/USTA rule).

            9) LATENESS will be enforced according to USTA rules: 0 - 5 minutes: 1 game plus loss of toss. 5 - 10 minutes: 2 games plus loss of toss. 10 - 15 minutes: 3 games plus loss of toss. Over 15 minutes : DEFAULT.

            10) UPON COMPLETION OF THE MATCH both players should IMMEDIATELY return to the tournament desk, sign their match assignment card verifying the score and return all balls.

            11) USTA OFFICIALS are assigned to this event and they will exercise general supervision over all aspects of play including but not limited to the conduct and action of players. Umpires are empowered to use their best judgment in all situations not specifically covered by the rules above in consultation with the N.E.W. Div. III I.T.T. Tournament Committee. The committee may act as an appeal body when the referee has unilaterally defaulted a player.

            12) SCORING DOUBLES MATCHES WILL BE 8 GAME PRO SETS THROUGHOUT. SUPER TIEBREAKERS WILL BE USED IN PLACE OF THIRD SETS FOR ROUNDS ONE AND TWO OF SINGLES.  THIRD SETS WILL BE PLAYED OUT BEGINNING IN ROUND THREE.  THE COMMITTEE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ADJUST THE PLAN BASED ON THE WEATHER. TO AVOID DISPUTES THE SERVER SHOULD ANNOUNCE THE SCORE BEFORE EACH POINT AND AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH NEW GAME. Note: where score cards are provided, the team name that comes first alphabetically is black on the score cards (alphabetically “black” before “green” before “red” before “white”).

            13) ITA INJURY TIME-OUT RULES one injury time-out is permitted, per injury per match, for a maximum of five minutes (including diagnosis) once the trainer begins treating the player. The injury time-out must be taken at the time of the injury or at the next changeover. A player may suffer more than one injury per match and have a stoppage for each injury. Each injury may be further treated at the changeover.

A player must ask the referee for permission for a “bathroom break.” The referee has the right to refuse this break if he/she feels the player is resorting to gamesmanship, or if the referee feels it is a loss of conditioning.

Loss of a contact lens is considered an equipment time-out. A player will be give 15 minute to take care of the problem. Similarly, should a player have dust or an insect in her eye, the player will be granted a three minute time-out to take care of the problem. In all of these time delays, the referee must give permission and has the right to deny the request if the player is clearly resorting to gamesmanship.

14) OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS An injury time-out is also allowed for loss of condition, cramps, dizziness and fainting. A player may receive a medical suspension of play for cramps, heat-related illnesses and treatable medical conditions. A player may request to see an athletic trainer at any time. The athletic trainer is responsible to administer treatment and may request to receive medical advice from the tournament doctor. A coach may assist and touch the player until a trainer arrives to diagnose and treat the injury.

            • MATCHES ARE PLAYED UNDER “THE CODE”. Players call all their own lines immediately and loud enough to be heard by the opponent. If a player is unsure of a call, the ball is considered good. An appeal of an out call may be made to an official who is on, or in direct observation of the court. This must be a VERBAL appeal.

            • PLAY IS CONTINUOUS. There will be no break after the first game in each set and a 2 minute break at the completion of each set. Twenty-five seconds are allowed between points. Both the server and the receiver are allowed the full 25 seconds. Ninety seconds are allowed on the change-over. Exceeding these time limits will result in an UNINTENTIONAL TIME VIOLATION. For the first offense, a warning will be given. Each succeeding offense will result in a point penalty. (Unintentional time violations are NOT part of the ITA Point Penalty System.)

            • PROBLEMS Should any problems arise on court, please get the official’s attention as quickly as possible.